Empire State, New York – The cannabis community is in a state of disbelief while mourning the senseless loss of Douglas “Doug” Greene, Board Member of Empire State NORML.

Greene, an ardent advocate with three solid decades of cannabis legalization activism to his credit, spoke at the New York Cannabis Parade, repeatedly marched on Albany, and scrutinized proposed cannabis legislation at the expert level. His untimely passing on Tuesday night is sending shockwaves throughout the cannabis community.

Douglas "Doug" Greene addresses the NYC Cannabis Parade.

Courtesy of Steve Bloom

“Doug Greene represented some of the best traits of our movement: rigor, resilience, and love. He was a brilliant teacher and a consummate student. In fact, it was Doug’s insatiable penchant for learning, insistent questioning, and commitment to truth that may have been his greatest gift. Mostly our team will miss our friend and captain. He made it impossible to not like him- even with his insistent listserve emails. Doug, our dear friend, thank you for always having our back,” says Kassandra Frederique, New York State Director at the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), one of the many causes Greene staunchly supported.

Greene was a movie buff and music aficionado. He liked many genres of music from alternative rock to funk. He especially loved live music and attended a Parliament Funkadelic concert at Central Park’s SummerStage in Rumsey Playfield, on Tuesday night with fellow activist and friend Todd Hinden.

After the conclusion of the event, Greene headed into the 72nd Street subway station on the Upper West Side, presumably to catch an A-Train to Penn Station, to board an LIRR train to his home in Valley Stream, in Nassau County on Long Island. Unfortunately, he did not make it.

An eyewitness told the NYPD that Greene “fell onto the roadbed as a Southbound A train was pulling into the station,” and was fatally struck at approximately 10:40 pm. NYPD confirms that the investigation is ongoing. Foul play is ruled out.

Greene, who at 52 could easily pass for a decade younger, credited his strictly vegan diet for his robust appearance.

Greene, who identified as Jewish, counted his CannaTech Yarmulke as “one of his most treasured possessions.” He attended Hofstra University and worked in a law firm as a paralegal, but his true passion was cannabis reform.

He is survived by his mother, brother and sister as well as many friends and colleagues. Always willing to lend a hand or support a friend or good cause, he recently attended a fundraiser on his native Long Island, for fellow activist and friend Rick Cusick.

"While trying to make marijuana reform, the rest of us activists improvised and debated about the proper way to proceed. Meanwhile, Doug continually just kept doing the right thing, and lobbying the legislature. He knew that would make a difference and I admire him greatly for it," Cusick says.

Greene's last public appearance was at the NORML Forml [sic] fundraiser on May 29. He was excitedly involved in rousing the troops during the current legislative session in Albany, to continue advocating for cannabis legalization with social equity in the Empire State.